"We have enjoyed a long-term strategic alliance with IBM in the Burlington region, concentrating on joint development high-performance DRAM (Dynamic Random Access) chip products," says Dr. Andreas von Zitzewitz, COO of Infineon Technologies. Infineon opened in May 2001 a 19,000-sq.-ft. (1,765-sq.-m.) research and development facility in Williston. By the end of this year, Infineon officials predict the site will house 60 engineers and support staff, all concentrating on development of computer memory chips.
      Vermont continues to lure high-tech investment with such resources as the Vermont Information Technology Center, geared toward the expansion of IT industries in the state; the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, targeted toward manufacturing industries, their pro-cesses and improving e-business strategies; and the Vermont Telecommunications Advancement Center, directed at the telecommunications and cable industries. The Marlboro College Technology Center, established in October 2000, hopes to attract and support Internet-oriented companies with start-up support and membership in the Technology Center launch pad. The site offers 60,000-sq.-ft. (5,574- sq.-m.) of commercial space in Brattleboro.
      The Green Mountain State has also been a big hit with captive insurance agencies. Vermont licensed its 500th captive agency last year and closed the year with 38 new captives. "We continue to see an even greater level of interest than in the previous year," notes Leonard Crouse, Vermont's director of Captive Insurance. Some of the new licenses were issued to well-known companies such as Pepsi Bottling Group, Kroger Company, Goldman Sachs Group and Wendy's International. State officials say their approach to licensing and regulations, as well as the available professional labor support, continues to attract the insurance industry.